The Arrow of Destiny Cuts Through the Night

#27

“Not interested.”

Kain flatly rejected the birthday party invitation to their face.

Then he just stared at Jersian with an indifferent expression.

The Gerold family members seated at the table looked at each other with wide eyes of surprise. Refusing an invitation so bluntly was considered extremely rude.

Hernin Gerold persisted and spoke again.

“Please don’t reject it like that… It will be fun. How about reconsidering once more?”

“Hernin.”

Jersian intervened in their conversation. He didn’t really want to get involved in such trivial matters, but he bore the most responsibility for that elf being in this Gerold mansion.

Moreover, if Kain kept talking, he might bring up strange traditions like “destined partners” or something.

“Kain already said he doesn’t want to.”

However, Hernin wasn’t easily swayed by Jersian’s mediation. It would be nice if he used this kind of persistence when dealing with the family’s merchants, but Hernin didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.

“Oh, is the elf’s name Kain? Just Kain? Or do you have a separate surname?”

“…”

Kain Starchis, hearing the question directed at him, glanced at Hernin with an annoyed look, then focused back on selecting edible items from his plate.

For elves, names were extremely important. Asking repeatedly about another elf’s name was considered impolite.

The clinking of cutlery cut through the quiet silence.

“…”

Kain’s behavior was more than enough to upset the proud young nobleman.

“What is this, are you ignoring my words?”

Hernin said, furrowing his brow, having never experienced such rudeness before. Here he was, inviting someone to his birthday party that others were desperate to attend, and it was being so coldly rejected. No matter how noble elves were said to be, they were nothing before the prestige of the Gerold Marquis family.

Jersian, sitting right next to him, once again tried to help end their conversation.

“Hernin. Don’t you think you’ve understood by now? How about respecting his wishes?”

“What?”

However, it wasn’t particularly polite assistance.

Hernin was about to take a step forward, fuming.

“To Hernin’s birthday party?”

The clear voice of Marchioness Elmerila Gerold was heard from afar. It was perfect timing. Or perhaps it was only perfect for Hernin. Hernin Gerold, who had been frowning at Jersian, turned his head saying, “Huh?”

“That’s a good suggestion. Jersian, if it’s alright, invite your guest to the party as well.”

Elmerila smiled with sparkling eyes. Although the phrase “if it’s alright” was included, it was ultimately not a suggestion but more like an order.

Hernin, standing right behind Jersian’s chair, responded, “As expected of you, Marchioness.” He, oblivious to everything, just seemed excited that the Marchioness was paying attention to his party. Kain Starchis observed Jersian from the side, whose expression had slightly hardened as he tried to understand the situation better.

“…”

Kain Starchis tilted his head slightly.

For some reason, Jersian looked gloomy.

Was it because of his appearance, which was completely different from the Gerold Marquis family members sitting together? Unlike the others with their bright hair and soft features, only Jersian had pitch-black hair and bright red eyes in this space. Despite appearing to be of similar age to the human next to him who was only concerned about his birthday party, Jersian gave the impression of having lived through entirely different times.

How had my destined partner spent the short time of not even a few decades? Kain became curious about Jersian’s life before he discovered him. He still knew nothing about the human called Jersian Del Claude.

Jersian belatedly nodded and said,

“Yes.”

It was an unexpectedly docile and compliant response, unlike his usual sharp demeanor when commanding the knights. Though he clearly didn’t seem to like it, he appeared to listen well to that person called the ‘Marchioness’. Kain looked at Jersian, who was answering gently, with curious eyes.

“If the Marchioness wishes… I will attend the party with him.”

“Great, I’m looking forward to it. An elf! Everyone will be surprised.”

Elmerila laughed cheerfully as she drank her wine.

Maintaining a smiling face, Jersian met Elmerila Gerold’s gaze in the air and pondered.

…So this is what she wanted from the start. Bringing out the elf who had been quietly kept in a room and introducing him to everyone at the banquet. Moreover, I know that the most prominent families of the empire and even members of the imperial family are invited to Hernin Gerold’s birthday party.

What on earth is she planning to do at that birthday party? No matter how sacred and legendary elves are said to be, it held no particular meaning for Elmerila Gerold. In fact, the Gerold Marquis family’s dealings had more secretive and dirty aspects, so she would know it’s impossible to ask an elf to participate in such things.

Hernin’s birthday party is in a few weeks. Fortunately, there’s time to gauge how the situation unfolds until then. Jersian slowly relaxed his fake smile and lowered his gaze.

Kain Starchis glanced at Jersian beside him and then straightened his tilted head.

‘So. Are we going to this birthday party thing? Why make such a fuss over a birthday?’

After celebrating hundreds of birthdays, one becomes indifferent to them. In fact, elves, including Kain Starchis, were detached from everything, not just birthdays.

Well, Kain wasn’t familiar with the human world anyway. He intended to move as Jersian directed.

“Well then.”

At the sound of Marchioness Elmerila Gerold’s clap, the paused meal resumed. The servers standing behind the Gerold Marquis family members, seated in a long row at the narrow table, began to move. They busily cleared away the plates already on the table and set down plates filled with food.

The pride of the Gerold Marquis family, the chef who reportedly worked for the royal family, seemed to have shown off his skills as each plate placed on the table looked intricate and appetizing.

However, Kain, who had already put a few items from the table in his mouth, was already full. To begin with, elves who lived in the mountains and had a lot of movement preferred to keep their bodies light and didn’t eat much.

Instead, he openly watched Jersian eating right next to him. Jersian elegantly moved the utensils in his hand, eating the foods placed in front of him one by one. It felt like watching a baby bird well receiving and eating the caterpillars brought to it.

“Would you like to have mine as well?”

But as soon as he said this, a cold gaze was returned. As if he had been told to eat garbage, Jersian reacted as if he had heard something unmentionable and then continued his meal.

Hm? So he can’t eat this much?

Kain’s eyes widened for a brief moment at that expression, then focused back on watching Jersian eat.

Though he was about half Kain’s size, his meal portion was enormous. He must still be growing. Seeing him eat so much during his growth period, one could predict how big Jersian would become later.

Fortunately, although Kain was full, he could still drink beverages. Whenever Jersian brought his drink to his lips, Kain would also bring his wine glass to his mouth in tandem.

There was one thing he learned while dining with him.

Unlike with food, Jersian doesn’t seem to like drinks much. No matter how many times he sipped, the level in his wine glass didn’t seem to decrease. In contrast, Kain drained his entire glass of wine each time he put it to his lips. The server standing behind Kain refilled the wine glass as soon as it was empty.

“…”

After emptying ten glasses of wine in succession, Jersian, sitting next to him, furrowed his brow while eating dessert.

“…What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

When Kain casually asked, Jersian briefly looked at the elf’s normal face and then shook his head as if it was nothing.

During this time, the Gerold Marquis family’s dinner came to an end. When Marchioness Elmerila Gerold rose from her seat first, the others also stood up one by one, exchanging greetings. Kain and Jersian did the same.

That’s when it happened.

Stagger, his body swayed ever so slightly. He immediately steadied himself by gripping the arm of the chair, but he felt his entire body becoming limp like a water-soaked cotton. Among those leaving the banquet hall, only Jersian seemed to notice Kain’s condition.

“…I knew this would happen.”

Why does your face look so normal?

Jersian’s voice reached Kain’s ears. Ha, along with the sound of his sigh.